Battelle Memorial Institute

Gp Technologies, Inc.

Sealy Technology, LLC

Royce Medical Company

David A Easter

Donald J Hackman

Kenneth E Hughes

Douglas E Boyd

William R Dick

Gilbert Gonzales

Tracy E Grim

Vincent Daniel McGinniss

Thomas D Haubert

Jan B Yates

Kathryn E Alexander

Larry E Schluer

Robert S Whitmore, Jr

K Bryan Scott

Alan A Alten

David E Guza

John J Reidy

Timothy J Carpenter

Lawrence C Bullen

John R Hetteberg

David Fingerhuth

Machinery for automated manufacture of formed wire structures such as innerspring assemblies for mattresses and seating and flexible support structures includes one or more coil formation devices configurable to produce generally helical spring coils having a terminal convolution which extends beyond an end of the coil; a conveyor system having a plurality of flights slidably mounted upon a continuous track and connected to a chain and driven by an index driver; a coil transfer machine which removes a row of coils from the conveyor and inserts the coils into an innerspring assembler; an innerspring assembler having first and second sets of coil-engaging dies in a parallel arrangement, each set of dies having an upper row positioned over a lower row, the dies being mounted upon carrier bars which are vertically translated within the innerspring assembler to diverge the upper and lower dies of a set to allow positioning of a row of uncompressed coils between the upper and lower dies, and to converge the upper and lower dies upon a row of coils to compress and thereby securely hold the coils in a row; a coil interconnection device for interconnecting adjacent rows of coils in the first and second sets of dies by attachment of fastening means about the adjacent coils; and an indexer assembly engageable with the carrier bars and operative to laterally translate the carrier bars, whereby the lateral position of the first and second sets of dies can be exchanged to provide continuous attachment of rows of coils to produce an interconnected array of coils as an innerspring assembly.

Machinery for automated manufacture of formed wire innerspring assemblies

An infusor system for administering medications to a patient comprises a delivery tube with one of the ends couplable to a supply of liquid medication. A dispenser head is coupled to the other end of the delivery tube and medication is directed through the tube to the dispenser head. The dispenser head includes a contact surface and is configured to be placed within a body cavity of a patient such that the contact surface contacts a portion of a mucous membrane in the body. The dispenser head is operable for directing medication from the delivery tube to the contact surface and on to the mucous membrane to be absorbed by the mucous membrane and distributed in a body of a patient. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dispenser head includes a portion of compressible foam which is configured to fit within the rectal cavity of a patient. The dispenser head channels, wicks or otherwise directs medication to the rectal mucous membrane to be absorbed thereby. Unique methods of utilizing the infusor system to administer medication to a patient are set forth herein.

Mucous membrane infusor and method of use for dispensing medications

Method of dispensing medications by use of mucous membrane infusor

A soft goods type foldable, wrappable sleeve orthopedic cast immobilizes and conforms to the shape and configuration of a limb, or other part of the anatomy. The soft-goods type cast assembly is initially specially formed or configured to specifically fit a selected portion of the anatomy of a patient. The cast conforms to the anatomy through the use of airtight and moisture-proof pouches which encapsulate either (1) open cell or fiberglass matrices impregnated with a water-activated hardenable pre-polymer, or (2) the entire assembly. After the tightening of the cast around the limb, the application of water activates the urethane polymer which conforms to the configuration of the limb encased. Supplemental bendable ribs may be employed to splint the limb prior to activation of the hardenable material. The soft goods type cast is held in place by straps, and may be removed or adjusted by releasing or tightening the straps. The splinting elements may be removed and replaced. An inlet duct may have a capsule in it with some of the chemical material which aids in polymerization of the urethane. A venting duct may also be provided to permit the escape of air or gases. The water activated pre-polymer material may include two isocyanate pre-polymers of significantly different viscosities and equivalent weights.

Soft-goods type, formable orthopaedic cast

A connector mate/demate tool provides remote coupling and decoupling of connector sections with a rotating locking ring on one section of the connector and where the other section is rigidly attached to some fixture. The tool mates the connector sections by first searching for a key-slot engagement of parts while exerting a small longitudinal force and then rotating the locking ring until the two sections are secured. Demating is accomplished by rotating the locking ring in the reverse direction and pulling the two connector sections apart.

Connector mate/demate tool

A fully automated tool for holding threaded fasteners during fastener insertion, removal, or transport is described. The device is capable of handling different sized fasteners and can be used with remote manipulator systems or in hand-held operations.

Fastener gripping mechanism for bolt running operations

Growing community of inventors

Westerville, OH, United States of America

David A Easter